Driver, dozens of cows die in truck crash

A man and dozens of cows are dead after a semi-trailer crash in NSW's north.

03 April 2012

A salvage operation continued into last night to remove a laden cattle truck that crashed into the Tangaratta Creek Bridge near Tamworth yesterday, claiming the life of the driver and dozens of cows.

The Northern Daily Leader reported Oxley Highway was closed for hours as emergency crews worked at the scene, first freeing the driver's body from the truck's cabin, which had been crushed against the bridge pylons, and then removing dead cattle and the truck from the scene.

An unknown number of cattle were killed or injured and diesel fuel from a ruptured fuel tank leaked into the creek.

The B-double truck left the road and rolled at the bridge on the Oxley Highway, about 10 kilometres west of the city, about 3pm.

Police believe the truck was travelling south, bound for Cargill abattoir at Tamworth, when it lost control on a sweeping bend that has been the scene of other serious accidents over the years.